I am not expecting or asking for Arsenal to get any favours from the officials when we take on Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. It would be pointless anyway because the Gunners never get much help from them. But it would be nice and a big help if we get a referee that does not allow the home team to be overly physical with their challenges.
Liverpool were allowed to do it last night and it really helped them to implement the high pressing tactics of Jurgen Klopp. I am not saying he was biased because the Liverpool fans were left howling for a foul on a few occasions but the lenient officiating definitely suited them more.
Mark Hughes and Stoke will be hoping they get something similar at the weekend while Arsene Wenger would prefer a ref who gives free kicks and is not afraid to issue yellow cards to the home team. The Premier League have given us Craig Pawson and I think that will suit us more than Stoke as he tends to be a bot more on the strict side of refereeing.
Pawson has only taken charge of one Arsenal match so far this season and you will be happy to know it was the 5-2 win away at Leicester, but will the Gunners be happy again this weekend?